Board Approves Levy

The school board approved a four-year Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy at its Oct. 21 meeting to replace an expiring levy.

The replacement levy is not a new tax. It replaces the district’s current educational programs and operations levy approved by voters in 2016, which is set to expire in 2020. School districts still rely on local residents to renew levies to fund crucial areas, such as student readiness, safety and security, educational technology, extracurricular programs, textbooks and staff training.

“The state has increased funding to school districts to help provide support for what it determines to be a basic education, and we appreciate that,” said Board President Marty Schafer. “The replacement levy provides funding to pay for the actual cost of educating students in our local community not covered by the state.”

What does the levy fund?

The replacement levy continues our community’s investment in our students by funding programs, resources and operations not funded by state basic education.

“Our community values providing quality educational programs to meet the needs of all learners in Clover Park School District,” Schafer said. “We are focused on providing our students with a quality education that is equivalent and competitive with all districts in our state and the skills and opportunities to be successful.”

The majority of the replacement levy enhances student readiness by funding interventions and resources for students who need extra help and Highly Capable and advanced programs for students who need additional challenges. It also funds maintaining class sizes, curriculum, textbooks, other instructional materials and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate testing.

Importantly, the replacement levy pays for School Resource Officers (SRO), safety support personnel and mental health and behavior intervention supports for students. It also funds security enhancements at buildings.

“Providing a safe, secure learning environment for each and all of our students is a priority,” Schafer said.

The replacement levy also pays for educational technology, which supports effective instruction and helps students develop 21st century skills needed to graduate career, college and life ready. It also maintains updated classroom technology and funds technology software, programs and services.

“Extracurricular programs are important enrichment that help students connect to their school, pursue their passions, engage with their peers and build confidence and skills,” Schafer said. The replacement levy funds after-school sports, clubs and activities. It also helps fund music and the arts beyond what is received in state basic education for co-curricular programming.

If approved by voters, the levy would assess $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value over the four years of the measure. This is in alignment with the state’s new funding legislation. The replacement levy is less than the $4.96 per $1,000 of assessed property value approved by voters in 2016 for the current levy.

The replacement levy will generate:

2021 $20.47 million

2022 $22.11 million

2023 $23.87 million

2024 $25.78 million

The school district would only collect up to the amount approved by voters.

More information is available on our levy page, or by calling the community relations department, 253-583-5040.